Gender as a Social Construct: Re Defining Gender Roles in Italian Society Social Sciences & Communication Program Spring 2020 Semester - Florence

This course will introduce you to the field of Gender Studies, particularly within the context of Italian society since WWII. You will be challenged to examine the ways in which gender roles have been constructed in society, how they have changed over time, and how they continue to transform today. Course readings and discussions will include:

-- Gender values and roles and how they are learned
-- Sexuality and reproductive rights
-- Family and same-sex unions
-- Gender-based violence

Working critically and collaboratively, you will examine all course issues within social, political, economic and historical contexts. This interdisciplinary approach will help you to establish connections between gender and various aspects of Italian society. As such, this course will enable you to identify and use methodological tools to analyze a wide range of societal issues, reassess conventional and transforming societal norms, and raise questions of gender, sexuality and 'difference' to a place of significance within the discourse.

**Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the content, this course is cross-listed with Anthropology (ANT321FLR) as well as Gender Studies (GEN321FLR). The instructor will provide directions during the first week of class regarding how to choose your desired course code.